FOUR teams remain in the hunt for the final two spots in next weekend’s SFNL A Grade semi-finals, as the stage is set for a cracking conclusion to the home-and-away season on Saturday afternoon.
The top two spots will be occupied by the unbeaten Wentworth Roos and Mildura, who clash at Brian Weightman Ovals in what should be a mouthwatering entrée to their follow-up semi-final meeting next weekend.
But it’s the final-round battle for third and fourth that will be even more fascinating as Ouyen (third, 36 points), South Mildura (32 points), Merbein (32 points) and Irymple (30 points) duke it out.
The Kangas are favoured to wrap up third spot with a victory at home against lowly Imperials, while fourth looks up for grabs.
The Bulldogs and Magpies are not only level on points, but their percentage – 92.66 against 92.36 – is nearly the same.
It means that if South and the Pies both win, against Red Cliffs and the Swallows respectively, the Pies’ margin will need to be three or four goals more than South’s to overhaul them in fourth.
The Swallows are the outsiders to reach the semi-finals but coach Sherrie Geister will be satisfied with her team’s finish even if they fall short of finals.
“I had no expectations going into this season because the core group is young,” Geister said.
“It’s been a good learning year and the players will be better off for the experience.”
Magpies coach Breigh Hammet said her team would need to respond well to an injury setback against the Swallows.
“Emily Gray suffered multiple fractures in her wrist last week playing Wentworth so our team line-up will have a shake-up,” Hammet said.
“It will either be an additional motivation having Liv (Olivia Bowden) move back to her usual goal shooter role or will upset the stability we have been working on.”
Bulldogs coach Sally Moore said her side would not be letting up against the winless Tigers at Mildura Sporting Precinct.
“We acknowledge that it will be a tough game,” Moore said.
“There are no easy wins in this competition.
“We’re still learning each game and we’ll be trying to capitalise on what we learnt against Robinvale last week.
“All of the top six teams haven’t had consistent line-ups each week due to injuries and illnesses.
“But fortunately, one of our strengths is that we have really good versatility in our playing group of 10.
“I really hope the girls play well on Saturday and make it to the finals because it’ll be great reward for the resilience the group has shown this year.”
A Grade netball finals scenarios:
* IF OUYEN UNITED (36 POINTS) BEAT IMPERIALS OR DRAW: They finish third.
* IF OUYEN UNITED LOSE: They miss finals only in the unlikely scenario both South Mildura and Merbein win, and the combined margins across the three games are substantial (about 91 goals or more).
* IF SOUTH MILDURA (32) BEAT RED CLIFFS AND MERBEIN (32) BEAT IRYMPLE: If the two games are both close in margin, Merbein overtake fourth-placed South Mildura only if their winning margin is three goals greater than that of the Bulldogs. If the games are blowouts, the Magpies need to win by four goals more than the Bulldogs.
* IF SOUTH MILDURA LOSE OR DRAW AND MERBEIN WIN: Merbein advance, South Mildura are eliminated.
* IF SOUTH MILDURA WIN AND MERBEIN LOSE OR DRAW: South Mildura advance, Merbein are eliminated.
* IF IRYMPLE (30) BEAT MERBEIN: Irymple advance only if South Mildura lose or draw. This would eliminate both South Mildura and Merbein.
* IF BOTH SOUTH MILDURA AND MERBEIN DRAW: South Mildura stay in fourth spot.
